Investing in Mental Health

By Madeline Bishop, PHP Fellow

April 7, 2017

Databyte

International organizations like the United Nations and the World Health Organization are beginning to prioritize mental health as a serious public health crisis, yet it remains starkly under-funded. The global burden of depression and anxiety disorders has been studied and quantified, and the results have raised eyebrows globally. Mental health disorders account for approximately 13% of the global disease burden and cost the world around $2.5 trillion, according to a 2014 report from the United Kingdoms’ All-Party Parliamentary Groups on Global and Mental Health. However, as depicted in the above graph, financial efforts to improve health outcomes for those with depression, anxiety, or other mental illnesses fall well short of meeting needs in low, middle, and high-income countries.

Madeline is a student at the Boston University School of Public Health, pursuing certificates in Program Management and Maternal & Child Health. She is particularly drawn to adolescent mental health and development, as well as social enterprise as a tool to address health challenges around the globe. Apart from her seemingly endless list of interests in public health, Madeline enjoys talking to strangers, road-tripping, ocean views, and mountain adventures with her trusty canine companion.